Comments on: Nanoparticles used in fight against cancer http://lancastria.net/blog/nanoparticles-used-in-fight-against-cancer.html Neuschwanstein, a castle that belongs in Blackburn Lancashire less the 4000 holes Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:50:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim http://lancastria.net/blog/nanoparticles-used-in-fight-against-cancer.html#comment-235 Jim Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:00:37 +0000 http://lancastria.net/blog/?p=2173#comment-235 Those diagnosed with lung cancer in England are much less likely to survive the disease than their Scandinavian counterparts, a study suggests. A study published in Thorax finds that despite similar health spending, Swedes have almost double the survival rate after five years with the disease. This was true regardless of the age and sex of the patient, and how long they were monitored for. But researchers say it is hard to pin down the exact reasons for this. The English patients studied were less likely to be treated with surgery and drugs than their contemporaries in Sweden and Norway. But this could be because they delayed seeking medical help, or their doctors were not quick enough to spot the symptoms and that the disease was beyond treatment by the time a diagnosis was made. Those diagnosed with lung cancer in England are much less likely to survive the disease than their Scandinavian counterparts, a study suggests.

A study published in Thorax finds that despite similar health spending, Swedes have almost double the survival rate after five years with the disease.

This was true regardless of the age and sex of the patient, and how long they were monitored for.

But researchers say it is hard to pin down the exact reasons for this.

The English patients studied were less likely to be treated with surgery and drugs than their contemporaries in Sweden and Norway.

But this could be because they delayed seeking medical help, or their doctors were not quick enough to spot the symptoms and that the disease was beyond treatment by the time a diagnosis was made.

]]> By: Jim http://lancastria.net/blog/nanoparticles-used-in-fight-against-cancer.html#comment-219 Jim Sat, 24 Apr 2010 05:57:27 +0000 http://lancastria.net/blog/?p=2173#comment-219 Viruses can be modified to seek out and destroy cancer cells, scientists said today. Laboratory tests at Leeds University have shown how proteins can be added to a virus to enable it to recognise unique markers on the surface of tumours. Campaign and research groups believe the development could benefit patients and lead to treatments tailored to different diseases. They say the findings show a method of delivering gene therapy more efficiently and individually to the cancers they are intended to treat. Now the researchers are hoping to move from the laboratory and begin human testing. Dr John Chester, who led the Cancer Research UK-funded study, published in Gene Therapy, said the modified viruses deliver genes which could make cancer cells more sensitive to drugs. They could also introduce "suicide" genes to cancer cells or replace the missing and defective genes which caused the cancer to develop, with an approach known as gene therapy. Chester said: "Gene therapies have been out of fashion over the last couple of years. This isn't an indication that they don't work, just that we haven't found the best way to use them yet. Viruses can be modified to seek out and destroy cancer cells, scientists said today. Laboratory tests at Leeds University have shown how proteins can be added to a virus to enable it to recognise unique markers on the surface of tumours.

Campaign and research groups believe the development could benefit patients and lead to treatments tailored to different diseases. They say the findings show a method of delivering gene therapy more efficiently and individually to the cancers they are intended to treat.

Now the researchers are hoping to move from the laboratory and begin human testing. Dr John Chester, who led the Cancer Research UK-funded study, published in Gene Therapy, said the modified viruses deliver genes which could make cancer cells more sensitive to drugs.

They could also introduce “suicide” genes to cancer cells or replace the missing and defective genes which caused the cancer to develop, with an approach known as gene therapy.

Chester said: “Gene therapies have been out of fashion over the last couple of years. This isn’t an indication that they don’t work, just that we haven’t found the best way to use them yet.

]]> By: Jim http://lancastria.net/blog/nanoparticles-used-in-fight-against-cancer.html#comment-216 Jim Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:18:42 +0000 http://lancastria.net/blog/?p=2173#comment-216 Scientists believe they may have made a "breakthrough" in using gene therapy to treat cancer tumours. Researchers at Strathclyde University in Glasgow have identified a technique for delivering genes to hard-to-reach tumours without harming healthy tissue. During lab tests the "seek-and-destroy" therapy resulted in 90% of skin cancer tumours disappearing altogether. The team is now investigating the technique's effectiveness at treating different forms of the disease. At present, most gene therapies cannot be delivered to tumours without harming surrounding healthy tissue. The Strathclyde-led team investigated ways of doing so with the use of the plasma protein transferrin, which carries iron through the blood. Scientists believe they may have made a “breakthrough” in using gene therapy to treat cancer tumours.

Researchers at Strathclyde University in Glasgow have identified a technique for delivering genes to hard-to-reach tumours without harming healthy tissue.

During lab tests the “seek-and-destroy” therapy resulted in 90% of skin cancer tumours disappearing altogether.

The team is now investigating the technique’s effectiveness at treating different forms of the disease.

At present, most gene therapies cannot be delivered to tumours without harming surrounding healthy tissue.

The Strathclyde-led team investigated ways of doing so with the use of the plasma protein transferrin, which carries iron through the blood.

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